The Opelousas courier., 1887-06-11
Where the RainboWs Hide.
BY IMoaENE II sykes.

tall tenement house, where only stra,
CLEANS OF. sunshine could steal in t
brig ten its baroness and poverty, tw,
boys were eating their simple meal 0
bread and cheese, moistened with waite
from a tin cup.
The eldest lad was about fourteen,
strong and a~ble-bodied, though hi
brown checks and slender hands looked
as if bread and cheese were not the most
neurishing food for a growing boy,
having to earn his own living and that
of a little brother. Fl, looked at the
little fellow as he put his last crumbs into
his mouth, AM the thought struck him
that he was indeed a little fellow
stuated, pallid and hollow-eyed; and q
sigh was smothercd back as the poor
boy felt the fear come upon him that
maybe he would not be long in this big
world.
"You won't get lonely to-day, will
you, Niccoq" he ashed, cheerily, as he
put away plate and tin cup on a shelf in
the corner.
The wan face lit up wonderfully.
mot to-aayw he cried with a strange
eagerness, propping up his chin with a
small, thin hand. ell think the
fairies will come to-day, Corona"
'Gan't you keep them for me to seea'
said his brother, with a kind smile for
the child's fancy.
Eyes; they will stay with me now, for
I found them, and they belong to me.
Gerome, I want to whisper something.
stoop down, bother, and listen"
The small face was all aglow with its
secret, and the big, brown eyes looked as
if they had seen the wonders of fairyIand
in very truth.
Gerome put down his implements of
daily toll, and gravely bent his head to
listen.
II know where the rainbows go when
they fade out Of the sky, !" whispered Mic
co, e~xultantly, in his ear. 1.-THE fairies
showed me where they hide. You shall
sec, too, Geromc, when you come home.
Don't stay too long"
Gcrome brushed his sleeve across his
eyes as he slung his blacking-box over
his shoulder and went down the long.
steep stairs. "Poor little chapl" he
said to himself. He believes in his
fairies and dreams, and is happy in
thinking of the good times coming t..
us. But il is just as well, perhaps; fer
him to think SO, for he can't work for
his bread with his poorlweak back, and
with no nj to lock after him oil day in
that rooHa half up in the sky. He'd DO
lonely enough without his fairies.n
The day went on in its usual routine
and Gerome piled his brush Industrious
". But thoughts Of the lame boy in the
attic, sitting oil the day long at the high
windowso near the clouds he loved to
weayc his fancies from, broke in upon
his work with persistent recurrence, and
finallymade him drop his brush an hour
or two before his usual time, and, sent
ing himself on his box, sank into a rev
erie.
ssThc fairies have told him where the
rainbows hide he muscd. ttPoor little
chapl What does he meant His head
u full Of such imaginings, and that's
why it aches so much"
He looked up at the spire Of the tall
church opposite him. The sun was gild-
ing the cross on its TOP.
sNicco Is at the window now thought
Gerome, anxiously. ssThe sun is shin
ing in it just for a few moments, and he
ii watching for bis fairies. He said he'd
show them to me. ] can't work no
more. p
Here Gsrone arose from his box, and,
singing it over his shoulder, walked
away. An irresistible desire to ret
1890 49,
home FASTENED his steps, as be thought
OF The lonely child III his room under
the roof.
no father, no mother-nobody but
me, \ said Gerome, with 4 big lump III his
throat. And ne 50 poor / can't hall
feed him, nor buy him paper and PEN
ellis for his fairy picturesl And him 50
patient and l~igh-aeartcdl The fairies
ought TO come to him-poor little
Nccop
Here be opsned the door OF their
room with 4 cautious hand, and crept Id
on tiptoe to surprise tho dreaming boy.
He paused In the middle Of the room,
with hushed breath and startled eyes.
and IN The rainbows of tho world
hal left their hiding-pIaces to- shins
above Niccoas head as he sat beside the
window Oh i wooden chair, his head
piIlowed on bis arms % the window
sill-fast asleep.
The sun shone through the upper
panes, y # be we're pesping for : mo-
mens before disappearing over thu house,
top. Thousands Of beautiful rays Of all
colors flashed and waversd iii long,
slanting shafts from top ID bottom of Tho
window sash. playing around the sleep
.wAhsssq HE~ Fsn5 +nssssYas nf $780,